Venice in a Day

Sono incantato dall’Italia! (Italy enchants me). Yes—totally! I’ve been slow traveling for years—way before it became popular, and one of my favourite long-term stays has always been Italy. Give me Rome any time. It’s a great place to stay for a few months and visit places like Pompeii, Positano, Florence, or Siena. But there is so much more to Italy than just the big cities of Roma, Torino, Milano, and Venezia. Yes, everyone should see Venice at least once in their lifetime, and when I found out Jack had never been to Venice during his time in the Navy, I knew I’d have to make the trip one more time! It is definitely not in my top 10 or even 20 places.

Not only is it sinking literally into the lagoon (5 mm a year). It is sinking figuratively under the burden of over-tourism. You now have to pay 5€ just to get into the city for the day. We were to take a catamaran from Venice to Croatia anyway, so I knew we had to stay at least one night in the floating city. I changed the schedule by one day and booked a room at the beautiful Al Ponte Antico. It was small and quaint, with a terrace for breakfast and afternoon drinks. Luckily for us, the water transfer from the airport dropped us directly at the hotel’s waterfront doorway. The owner personally greeted us, gave us the hotel’s story, and showed us to one of the nine rooms available. After a drink on our terrace, it was time to get lost in Venice (thank God for Google Maps). We strolled along at a leisurely pace (like we could go any faster with the other 150,000 tourists crowded into the alleys and streets). Jack commented it wouldn’t be a good place to run! After hitting San Marco Square, Harry’s Bar, and the Doge Palace, it was time for bed. The best thing about Italy is the Persianas—when these window coverings are closed, the whole room is in total darkness, and one can sleep like the dead—which we did! Breakfast was served on the terrace, and Jack got his beloved cappuccino! BTW the hotel’s coffee machine was designed and handmade for the hotel at a cost of 13,000 € (today it’s 18,000!) After a quick repack, we walked to the Jewish Quarter, had lunch, and then off to the ferry terminal via a vaporetto (water bus). The good news is we are both in good shape and could lug our suitcases over the many bridges—all steps up and steps down. The ferry to Croatia (Adriatic Lines) is an easy and comfortable way to get to the beautiful city of Rovinj (row·veen). The boat leaves from San Basilio Ferry Terminal at 17:00 and arrives in Rovinj at 20:00. If you opt out of a water crossing, you can always take a bus from Venice (FlixBus), about a 4-hour journey. After the crowds of Venice, you will love Rovinj—a quiet town on the Istrian coast.

Muscat, Oman

Dubai, UAE

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